SDalt404

iTrader: (4)

I always have small things to tweak or repair on my GTA and I am wondering if it ever stops. Does any one own a 3rd gen that's pretty reliable and at the power level you want?

scamaro355

Not me after i got close to the power level i wanted all i have done is break tranny's...

johnny89345

it will never stop

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

The only time I broke down was when my MSD 6A ignition module gave up the ghost. I was able to switch back to the factory unit and keep going on down the road.

Other than that I have had no problems. Currently making 370rwhp through my A4.

Atilla the Fun

I've done it. Then I traded the car for a pickup. I needed a pickup, but I regretted it before I did it.
There's an old truism: cheap, fast, reliable: pick 2. You can't have all 3.

Viprklr

iTrader: (5)

Another vote for a reliable powerhouse.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

mines reliable, it only breaks when i break it from driving to hard

Atilla the Fun

how can a ZZ4 with a StealthRam break a T56 and/or a Dana 44?

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

cuz u know what broke...

the dana is new, the 4th gen ten bolt got an axle bent NOT from hitting anything, just hard shifting, it happens to 4th gen guys fairly frequently. i also had did a 130 mph emergency stop for a speed trap and warped my c5 rotors badly. there are other little things like a crushed a cat on my custom-y-pipe because there was a TERRIBLE little bridge out in the boonies at night on a nice two lane road that i hit going 85 on a road rallye with potholes and bumps that were more at home on a ATV trail, also road rallyes in general are hard on the car, bumps, hard stops, making up time they hurt suspension and wheels and tires after a lot of hard driving against the clock

SDalt404

iTrader: (4)

Sounds like expensive and fast are the winners

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Yes. I'd take the car across country without the bat of an eye.

JamesC

Rolling Thunder

It all depends on how its done. Theres really no reason why a streetable set up has to be unreliable. I find on modded street cars 90% of the problems are cause by the builder. The other 10% of thinge were going to happen anyways reguardless. For example, putting on headers later i developed problems with running hot discovered that it was because the fuel line was too close to the header. That was my fault for not recogniseing it was too close not the cars. Transmissions blowing up. Putting a t-5 behind a hot 350 is going to be unreliable at best but if the money was spent to do it right and put a trans in that was meant to take that kind of abuse then it wouldnt be an issue. Then theres other issues like shotty workmanship when even a sound set up can be underminded by just poor installation or maintenence. I find this to be especially true when it comes to electrical stuff. Then theres stuff thats just going to happen reguarless. Wear and tear does happen. Lastly the biggest problem that causes many reliability issues is just getting into things they dont understand. Rebuilding motors for example if you dont know how to do it and your not carefull and pay close attention to a rebuild manual dont be supprised when it only lasts 30k miles. This case is most common and thats where they end up discovering problem along the way. However someday youll work though all the bugs just call it R&D work. GM had to do it too with the help of many experiance engineers doing lots of testing you just had to learn it by trial and error on the street. So does a performance car have to be unreliable? No. Are many of them unreliable anyways? Yes, but its not the car to blame.

scamaro355

Well i agree with rolling thunder to a point... If you drive it like and old lady it will last... When it breaks build it stronger... he hit on the tranny situation pretty strongly, a very common problem with third-gens. But i have been through 3 different 700r's in 4 months..none of which were stock by any means...these tranny's are a major week link!!
Im in the process of installing the new t-56 magnum, So the only thing left is the moser 9" and if it blows, time to upgrade from 31 to 35 spline...ALWAY BUILD STRONGER!!!

Rolling Thunder

Im kinda supprised by that 3 worked 700-r4s in 4 months? I say this because in your sig it says your running a 350 and its not uncommon to see nicly built 700-r4s that are rated to handle 450hp. Sure the no th-400 but to destroy a built 700-r4 in about a month seems alittle strange? Unless this is a forced induction motor or a heavy shot of nos and drag raced frequently i would double check a few things. For example maby the guy who did your trans doesnt know what hes doing or maby the factory oil cooler isnt up to the task. I know cars with high stall converters run into thoes kinds of troubles frequently as cruseing on the highway they never lock up, overheating the trans and self destructing. Just seems really odd that a 350 could thrash a well built 700-r4 so fast?

EvilCartman

iTrader: (1)

Don't think I broke a single thing last year driving around and taking it to the track, just changed the oil and put gas in it. The only real problems have been starter issues (bad starters), and a couple pushrods breaking because I cheaped out on them. For the 5+ years this motor has been in the car, it's been damn good to me. I have broken a locker in the old 10 bolt after switching to the 350 and burned up a TH400 3 times with the old 305. Hardly got to drive my car that year 'cause the trans was always at the shop. Bought another TH400 from someone else and it's been in the car probably 6+ years now trouble free.

scamaro355

sorry i need to update the engine.... im running a dart headed 434 with a stealth ram, a crane cam 232/242 @.050 .539/.558 lift. I did have a 2500 stall in it from "700r4.com". The first tranny had been upgraded with alto red seriers clutch's,kolene steels a hardened sunshell, 5 gear planetaries and a complete trans go kit,it did great for the first 2 months...then i lost 4th then couldnt get over half throttle in 3rd. After that the other tranny's were just kinda "get by" tranny's...you can only baby something for so long...

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Not even close to reliable.

Entry level aftermarket parts (and some more expensive ones) are not built to the same quality standard as factory GM parts.

Also, a car at this age is going to start to wear out other items that aren't upgraded parts... Door seals, windshield wiper motor, etc. Little annoying things.

Tpx

Owned my car for little over a year and never stopped having trouble with something. Whether it be machine shops fu**ing up or my car throwing a fit every once and a while, it is always needing repair or something.

On the plus side, once you fix the majority of things you can sit back and enjoy a reliable car for a few years

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

My '68/327/Muncie/4.10 posi/front tire lifter....Survived daily driving, including delivering pizza!



BTW....I was 17 at the time. 'Nuff said about the way I drove it!